Stephanie Willing's performance is full of vim and vigor that amps up the absurdist humor in this charming fairy tale. Leeva's parents are villains. They never tell Leeva her birthday or let her leave their property. She learns about the world through soap operas and the local newspaper's word-of-the-day. One day, Leeva squeezes through the hedge and discovers the library next door with its friendly librarian, her nephew, and a limit of 10 books a day. Willing's pacing and tone are perfect. She keeps the story light as she shows listeners Leeva's big heart, can-do attitude, and need to right the wrongs her parents have done to the whole town--along with the magic of friends, books, cookies, and toast.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 7, 2023
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063114456
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Edwards gives a soulful performance.
Young Juniper visits her grandmother's house, where Grandma tells her about their ancestors from Africa and their practice of hoodoo. Together, Juniper and Grandma tend to the garden, go for walks in the woods, attend church, create herb-filled mojo bags, and visit the cemetery to place offerings for their ancestors, whom Grandma says are always with them. Narrator Janina Edwards conveys Grandma’s wisdom with an earthy and relaxed narration, expressing a clear connection with the natural world, a refuge for both of them. Edwards also handily portrays Juniper's sense of wonder as she navigates this spiritual connection, inspiring listeners to pay attention to the world around them.
Edwards gives a soulful performance. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 13 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349168703
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: June 6, 2026
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